What is your opinion on the author using the apocrypha?
NOTICE: The author of this book was invited to participate in the discussion in this forum about his book. You should expect that the author is reading and may reply to posts made in this forum.
While the forums typically have a rule against authors/publishers talking about their own book on the forums at all as a way to prevent spam, an author discussing their own book in the dedicated discussion forum about that book is an exception and is allowed, including posting would-be self-promotional links to his book or related material insofar as is relevant to the discussion.
However, other forum rules and standards, such as those requiring upmost civility and politeness, are of course still in effect.
- ReneeBrown
- Posts: 263
- Joined: 30 Mar 2019, 16:27
- Favorite Book: The Outsiders
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 105
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-reneelu1998.html
- Latest Review: the brave and the wicked by Brandon clarke
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
What is your opinion on the author using the apocrypha?
- Bluebird03
- Posts: 1288
- Joined: 29 Dec 2018, 20:13
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 127
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bluebird03.html
- Latest Review: Retort and Retribution by Jak Dello
- katinabuchanan5
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 12 Apr 2019, 07:34
- Currently Reading: A Witch in Time Saves Nine
- Bookshelf Size: 11
- A G Darr
- Posts: 105
- Joined: 02 Oct 2018, 17:33
- Currently Reading: Roadmap to the end of days
- Bookshelf Size: 28
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-a-g-darr.html
- Latest Review: Debt Cleanse by Jorge P. Newbery
- A G Darr
- Posts: 105
- Joined: 02 Oct 2018, 17:33
- Currently Reading: Roadmap to the end of days
- Bookshelf Size: 28
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-a-g-darr.html
- Latest Review: Debt Cleanse by Jorge P. Newbery
- Stephanie Elizabeth
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2989
- Joined: 18 Jul 2018, 15:41
- Currently Reading: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
- Bookshelf Size: 212
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-elizabeth.html
- Latest Review: Do You Remember Me? by Wm M Crouch
- Sonya Nicolaidis
- Posts: 991
- Joined: 22 Aug 2018, 01:30
- Favorite Book: McDowell
- Currently Reading: The Dark Web Murders
- Bookshelf Size: 403
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sonya-nicolaidis.html
- Latest Review: My Delightfully Dysfunctional Family by Loraine Hartley
I must say, I agree with your point of view. I do believe the Apocrypha need to be examined and considered, as much as any other religious writings. It also has to be said that so much of the ‘truth’ is lost over time and in the translation, that it is impossible to know for sure what is correct. I guess that’s where one’s faith has to carry one through...A G Darr wrote: ↑05 May 2019, 16:44 I didn't have a problem with the author using apocrypha. There are a lot of books left out of the Bible. It is hard to say which books were left out because they are false and which were left out because they did not align with the Church's agenda. That is not to say I totally believe the "Gospel of Judas" is a true gospel, but I also do not completely discredit it.
-
- Posts: 602
- Joined: 15 Jul 2018, 22:12
- Bookshelf Size: 0
I personally believe that the Gospel of Judas is the SOURCE of the Bible "Betrayal" and sacrifice of Jesus. They just substituted Judas for James, and even Jesus for James. There was certainly no Judas, and likely no Jesus, either. Too many facets of James are taken on by Judas and Jesus. It takes a lot of study, but comparing the gnostic Apocalypses of James and Peter to the canon make it pretty clear what happened. The Bible copied and INVERTED the gnostic succession story and made it into a story of betrayal. There was NO BETRAYAL. There was a succession dynamic. Masters come all the time.Bluebird03 wrote: ↑05 May 2019, 10:53 I think he does lean heavily on that gospel, but indicates that it was omitted from The Bible on purpose. He also points out discrepancies between some of the books of The Bible, as they show different accounts of what happened to Judas after "the betrayal".
-
- Posts: 602
- Joined: 15 Jul 2018, 22:12
- Bookshelf Size: 0
Not being "included in the canonical Bible" means nothing to veracity. Why put so much stock in a self-serving ("If anyone add to this book the plagues of God will be added unto him, and if anything removed, he will be removed from the Book of Life" or some such nonsense in the end of Revelation. Good grief!) collection as the New Testament. I make a clear distinction between the Old and New. Aside from the impossibility of a "NEW" testament, Ecc. 1:9, there are many problems with it. Do a thorough investigation of the Mythicists, like Richard Carrier, Robert Price, David Fitzgerald, and Earl Doherty. Any one of these demolishes the New Testament Gospels and letters as any kind of authority. Dr. Robert Eisenman is even more devastating, with his command of period (historical) sources. You MUST examine these arguments and familiarize yourself with this viewpoint before you can say the Bible is authoritative.reneelu1998 wrote: ↑04 May 2019, 16:06 I noticed that the author starts right out (and throughout the entire book) relying heavily on the "Gospel of Judas" which is considered apocrypha by most people since it isn't included in the canonical Bible. Do you think the author relies too heavily on this one book of scripture?
The information in the gnostic texts is VITAL to understanding the origins of the New Testament Gospels. You will see that they are the SOURCE of at least the "Betrayal of Christ" narrative. The whole message of blood salvation grew out of a tendentious reversal of Essene blood purity observances at Qumran, and the Betrayal is a similarly tendentious reversal of a gnostic mastership succession story. Did you read my book? I go into all this in detail.
-
- Posts: 602
- Joined: 15 Jul 2018, 22:12
- Bookshelf Size: 0
The Gospel of Judas was the opposite of the NT Gospels. In fact, they canonical Gospels may have been conceived to counter it. At least the central idea of the sacrifice of Judas. That was original and very early, I am sure. It was inverted in the canon to counter gnostic succession teaching. Masters come in succession, one after another, FOREVER. That is what THEY teach, not me.Bluebird03 wrote: ↑05 May 2019, 10:53 I think he does lean heavily on that gospel, but indicates that it was omitted from The Bible on purpose. He also points out discrepancies between some of the books of The Bible, as they show different accounts of what happened to Judas after "the betrayal".
-
- Posts: 602
- Joined: 15 Jul 2018, 22:12
- Bookshelf Size: 0
Try, James the Brother of Jesus, by Dr. Robert Eisenman, if you really want to stretch your head! He is the one who ended Christianity. Scholars treat this brilliant towering titan of scholarship with disdain, when they are not worthy to shine his shoes.Stephanie Elizabeth wrote: ↑05 May 2019, 18:20 He definitely relies heavily on the gospel, but that isn't surprising seeing as he is trying to uncover information to the reader. I am still trying to wrap my head around this book!
- Sushan Ekanayake
- Official Reviewer Representative
- Posts: 4853
- Joined: 04 May 2018, 19:13
- Currently Reading: Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry Now
- Bookshelf Size: 408
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sushan-ekanayake.html
- Latest Review: Unsettled Disruption by Juana Catalina Rodriguez
- Reading Device: B0794JC2K5
- Bill Gates -
$u$han €kanayak€
-
- Posts: 44
- Joined: 18 Sep 2018, 11:00
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 14
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lhisa.html
- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz
- tanner87cbs
- Posts: 284
- Joined: 22 Feb 2019, 18:35
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 96
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tanner87cbs.html
- Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
Yes, I believe the author put too much emphasis on the fragments from the 'Gospel of Judas". No matter your believes, you cannot avoid the historical backing of the Bible. Specifically, the protestant bible which is comprised of 66 books. I don't believe there is much weight to the argument with trying to make these texts co-exist.reneelu1998 wrote: ↑04 May 2019, 16:06 I noticed that the author starts right out (and throughout the entire book) relying heavily on the "Gospel of Judas" which is considered apocrypha by most people since it isn't included in the canonical Bible. Do you think the author relies too heavily on this one book of scripture?
- lucia_kizas
- Posts: 199
- Joined: 20 Mar 2018, 07:44
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 55
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lucia-kizas.html
- Latest Review: Business Basics BootCamp by Mitche Graf
I can only agree with you about the lost texts or truths that did not suit the agenda of the Church at different times of Christianity. Such as the story of Mary Magdalene and her place among the disciples, for example. I admire the author's decision to go with something less accepted and more controversial.A G Darr wrote: ↑05 May 2019, 16:44 I didn't have a problem with the author using apocrypha. There are a lot of books left out of the Bible. It is hard to say which books were left out because they are false and which were left out because they did not align with the Church's agenda. That is not to say I totally believe the "Gospel of Judas" is a true gospel, but I also do not completely discredit it.